Anyway one restless night's sleep later, I'm always nervous the night before the first day, the delegation woke to sunny skies with the promise of showers...where's the sun block?
The group President opened the conference congratulating delegates and branches on the fabulous support in the recent action in the compensation campaign which proved decisive in the recent High Court victory for the Union. Remember the decision of the Court made specific mention of the fact that the strike clearly demonstrated that the majority of Civil Servants affected by the unlawful changes were not in agreement with them.
The day moved onto the motions.
EM1 on the Contact Centre Campaign was carried, all branches involved in Contact Centre areas speaking out about the working conditions endured in CCs with the first use of unparliamentary language showing how well "Contact Centres are..." can be alliterated.
Moving onto A12 the branch delegation had the opportunity if it's first intervention in the debate on PDCS and Lean. I (Chris Wade) was able to tell the conference about the effects of LEAN at the DCPU, more work fewer staff being the outcome and the conference agreed that protection of jobs and services in areas threatened by LEAN was a priority and all action should be taken to resist the department's policy.
After the break the Pay claim motions were the focus of the conference and pay progression headed the debate and action to progress the pay talks and abolish low pay in the DWP. Unfortunately the guillotine fell before the branch's motion on honorarium for First Aiders was heard...has anyone got a plaster?
Equality issues and policy on Mental Health followed A214 detailing support for reps in dealing with cases where member's mental health problems have been held against them including investigating any potential discrimination. A215 on working patterns and A216 on Equality Data gathering were passed as was A222 on Equality Data. Conference determined to make sure that all HR policies are equality assessed.
After a short lunch break motions in the Managing Attendance section were debated, the first motion A245 dealing with natural justice, rights under DDA and an acknowledgement that people do get ill and should not be punished because of it was also passed.
A258 dealing with discounting of DDA linked absences was also passed an important policy plank of the group now being to get a fairer deal for disabled staff. While A270 called for re-education of managers regarding AM and DDA and was passed. It is noteworthy that although moved and seconded by other branches this motion like some others was written by this branch but also passed at the other branches' respective AGMs ...a mark of the influence of this branch within the wider union.
A277 on OHS advice was guillotined; this was to be seconded by our branch though like the one above, the lead branches motion was based on our own. Motions were then debated which spoke of the victimisation of PCS reps in DWP and in CMEC in particular and the support we as a Union must give to our representatives when dismissed for taking part in legitimate representation of members. A59 then going onto debate (and be passed) a motion regarding the imposition of CMEC Employee Relations Principles which are now to be resisted as an attack on PCS.
Conference ended with votes on Honorary Lifer Memberships for activists and presentations to those approved at the previous conference.
Then it was off to tea...but not before the fringe and other conference meetings that fill the evenings here in Brighton...It had been a long day but a worthwhile one.
Tomorrow will see the remaining delegates; Katya, Grant, Greg and Charles speaking on motions, more of that later.
Written by Chris Wade.
